Rail-locking device.



C. ROCHELLE. mm LOCKlNG DEVICE. APeucm'iou min mum 23, um.

Pmemedl- Feb; 55,1918

ATTORNEYS CARL ROCHELLE, 0F WASHINGTON, NORTH CAIROZINA.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

nAnt-toomne :onv-ron.

Patented Feb. 5,. 191a.

Application filedNovem'ber 23, 1916. serial No. 133,070.

foallwhom it may concern:

"Beit known that I, CARL ROCHELLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident oi? Washington, in the county of Beaufort and State of North Carolina, have invented an Improvement in Rail-Locking Devices,

points out of their normal position.

An object of my invention is to provide a device which will lock the movable switch points in position so as to prevent the movement of the switch points due to the jar which is transmitted to the operating lever of the switch stand thereby causing the lever to work upwardly and to move the switch point into such position as to cause the wheels of certain cars of the train to pass out on the siding when the switch is set in its normal position, 2'. 6., for permitting a clear passage along the main line.

A further object of my invention is to provide spring means for positively holding the movable switch point close to the rail during the normal position of the switch but which may be moved so as to permit the movement of the rails to permit a train to pass onto the siding.

.A further object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary locking device to be used in connection with the ordinary switch stand for accomplishing the objects named above.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad track equipped with my improved locking device.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig.1, showing the parts moved to run the train ontoa siding.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line ie-4t of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one portion of the rail locking device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another portion of the rail locking device.

In Fig. 1. the main. track rails are shown at 1 and 2, respectively. At 3 and at are the movable track rails for switching the car onto the siding. As is usual with. this con strllction, the movable rails 3 and l are tapered at theirends and are arranged to engage the respective rails 1 and 2, being moved into and out of engagement by means of a switch bar 5 which is operated from a switch stand 6 by the ordinary mechanism not shown.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a supporting base 7 for-each of the uprights 8 and 9, respectively. Pivotally mounted in the uprigl'it 8 is a locking ineinber 10 whose end extends into a slot 9 of the upright- 9. In this slot 9 is pivotally mounted a foot lever 11 upon which the end of the locking member 10 rests. Downward pressure on the outer end oft the foot lever 11 tends to raise the lockin member. 4

h locking bar 12 is provided which passes through a U shaped bracket 13 secured to the rail 2, this arm 12 being pivotally sccured to a bracket 14 which is in turn secured to the inner side of the movable switch point 4;. The locking barlQhas a pin 15 against which a spiral spring 16 bears, the other end of the spring bearing 011 the bracket 13.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. The switch stand 6, as has been explained before, is of the ordinary construction. Many times the jar of a train passing over a switch will cause the movable rails to vibrate so as to gradually work the switch lever (not shown) of the switch. stand up to a position where it will cause the movable switch point to spreadto an extent that will permit the flanges of the wheels of the train to suddenly throw the switch point out of its normal position and thereby turn the wheels to the side track.

In the present instance, however, this cannot be done because in the position of the apparatus shown-in Fig. 1. which is the normal position of the switch, the movable rail member- 4: is held by means of the spring 16 into close contact with the main rail 2, so that notwithstanding any vibration the movable rail member at will not be moved away from the main rail 2 far enough to permit the flange pf the wheel to enter between. the rall oint and. the mam ram]. 2.

Moreover, the locking member 10 has entered a slot 12 in the locking bar 12 so as to hold the parts positively locked.

Now when it is desired to turnthe switch so as to permit a train to enter thesiding the foot lever 11 is depressed thus raising the lockin member 10 clear of the slot 1%. The movable rail members 3 and 4 may now be moved by meansof the switch rod 5 through the turning of the switch lever in the switch stand 6, against the tension of the spring 16. Thisposition is illustrated in Fig. 2. Then now the switchisset in its normal position the movement of the locking bar 12 will cause the locking member 10 to again enter the slot 12, thus positively locking the rails in their normal position.

fThe device described above is designed to eliminate. those accidents caused by the slight movement of the movable. rails during the. passage of a train. Thus'in the case where the switch has been inadvertently left in position to turn the cars onto a siding, if a train should come from the direction in whiehthe side trackextends, that is to say in such a direction that the passage of the train on the main line would tend to split the switch, the'switch bar 5 will be broken under ordinary circumstances and the switch points or ends of the movable rail members 3'and ewill be left open so that when a train on the main line comes in the opposite direction it will be turnedontothe siding.

NVith my invention should such a splitting, of the switch occur the switch points would be forced to. the normal position to open the main line and the locking bar 12 would cause the locking of the parts so that in'the subsequent passage of a train in the opposite direction it would proceed on the main line and not be turned off onto the siding. This would eliminate one of the many dangers which now exist due to the splitting of the switch and the leaving of the line in condition to derail the train.

I claim: 7

1. The combination with a railroad track having main track rails, of movable rails for switching purposes arranged to be moved into and out ofengagement with said main track ralls, a locking bar secured to one of said movable rails, a locking member arrangedto engage said locking bar when said movable rail is in engagement with a main rail, and means for disengaging said locking member from said locking bar at will.

2. In a switching system, a main track rail,-a movable rail arranged to be brought into and out of, engagement with said main track ra1l,a rod' pivotally secured to said Copies of this patent may be obtained for and the other end of the spring bearing against the stationary rail, and gravity operated means for automatically locking the rod in its normal position.

4. In a switching system, a main track rail, a movable rail arranged to be brought into and out of engagement with said main track rail, a rod pivotally secured to said movable rail, an abutment carried by the rod, a spring disposed upon the rod, one end of the spring bearing against said abutment and the other end of the spring bearing against the stationary rail, gravity operated means for antomatically locking the rod in its normal position, and a foot lever for raising said gravity operated means to release the locking rod.

against said abutment and the other end of the spring bearing against the stationary rail, gravity operated means arranged to enter said slot for automatically operating the rod in its normal position, and a foot lever for raising said gravity operated means to release the locking rod.

6. In a switching system, a main track rail, a movable rail arranged to be brought into and out of engagement with said main track rail, a rod secured to said movable rail and provided with a slot, an abutment carried by the rod, a spring disposed upon the rod, one end of the spring bearing against said abutment and the other end of the spring bearing against the stationary rail, a lever pivoted at one end and having a portion arranged to enter the notch in said rod when the latter is in its normal position for locking the rod, and a foot lever for raising said locking lever to release the lock ing rod.

CARL ROCHELLE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." 

